A Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputy shot a woman three times after she slipped out of handcuffs while in the back seat of a patrol car, got behind the wheel, and struck another deputy, Sheriff Jim Hart said Friday afternoon.

The deputy suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

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The woman was able to escape from the back of the patrol car by reaching through an open window, and she jumped into the driver's seat, Hart said.

Two deputies were on a routine patrol when they came upon two cars parked at a turnout near Paradise Park. The woman was in one car and a man was in the other.

Deputies often patrol the area because it's a crime-plagued spot, and residents have made many recent reports of drug use and trespassing.

"It's a remote region. There is a gate that it dead-ends into. There's no good reason to be back there really," Hart said.

"(Deputies) discovered that one of the cars was reported as stolen," Hart said.

Deputies placed the suspected car thieves in handcuffs and put them in the back of separate patrol cars.

"While deputies interviewed the man, the woman was able to slip out of her handcuffs, reach through a partially-opened window, and open the door. The woman then entered the driver's side of the patrol car and, without warning, drove the vehicle directly at one of the deputies, striking him, and damaging both patrol cars," Hart said.

Rather than fleeing, the woman continued to drive the car back and forth, trying to hit the deputy again, Hart said.

While the deputy was down on the ground and unable to defend himself, his partner opened fire, Hart said.

After the shooting, emergency crews saved the woman's life at the scene by giving emergency medical aid. She was airlifted to a Bay Area trauma center, where she was still alive as of 1 p.m. Friday.

The deputy was also transported to a hospital and he was released hours later.

The deputies' body cameras were activated, and Hart said he will release the video footage next week.

Hart declined to release the names of anyone involved, including the woman and the injured deputy. The woman is facing charges including attempted murder of a peace officer.

The man who was in the other car is cooperating with investigators, Hart said.

The Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.